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House Republican leaders abruptly canceled a key budget vote on Wednesday as a revolt from hardline conservatives threatened to derail President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. The decision marked a significant blow to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who had spent the day scrambling to shore up support in his fractured caucus.
Despite Johnson’s optimism earlier in the day, Republican leadership was forced to delay the vote on a revised budget blueprint after a bloc of conservatives signaled they would not support the measure due to insufficient spending cuts.
“This has been a very constructive process,” Johnson said late Wednesday. “We’re working through this. We want all members to be not just comfortable with but happy about the final product.”
Johnson said he hopes to bring the measure back for a vote on Thursday and noted that Trump had been kept apprised of the situation throughout. “I stepped out to a side room and told him exactly what was going on,” he said. “He’s very supportive of us working together.”
But public and private lobbying from Trump — including a dinner with holdouts at the White House and a Wednesday morning push on Truth Social — failed to sway enough conservatives.
“Republicans, it is more important now, than ever, that we pass THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,” Trump posted. “The USA will Soar like never before!!!”
The budget plan, which mirrors a Senate-passed resolution, includes $4 billion in spending cuts, far less than the $1.5 to $2 trillion preferred by the House’s more conservative wing. Some GOP lawmakers expressed fears the Senate measure would accelerate national debt and lacked accountability.
Adding to the tension, Republicans used the same procedural “rule” vote to quietly block any effort to reverse Trump’s April 2 emergency declaration that enabled sweeping global tariffs. The provision, embedded in the rule, bars Congress from voting to end the declaration through September 30.
That decision angered some lawmakers — especially swing-district Republicans — who are skeptical of Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda. Trump announced Wednesday a 90-day pause on tariffs for non-retaliating countries while escalating tariffs on China to 125%.
“It means any lawmaker who backed the ‘rule’ also voted to protect Trump’s tariff power until October,” one senior aide told reporters.
Speaker Johnson defended the move. “I think the president has executive authority… That’s part of the role of the president — to negotiate with other countries,” he said. “That is an America First policy that will be effective.”
Trump’s tariffs and the House’s internal budget disagreements are converging at a critical moment as Congress prepares for a two-week recess. Republican leaders are eager to avoid heading home without delivering a legislative win.
Despite securing the procedural vote 216–215 on Wednesday — with three Republicans voting against it — several who backed the rule indicated they would oppose the final blueprint. Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) were among those signaling continued resistance.
Meanwhile, Democrats, led by Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), are trying to overturn Trump’s emergency declaration. Meeks has introduced a resolution to do so, backed so far by 36 Democrats. Some moderate Republicans, including Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), have expressed interest in returning tariff power to Congress.
Johnson, however, remains firm in his support for Trump’s trade authority. “We have to give him the space to do it,” he said.
With tensions high and time running short, the coming days will test Johnson’s leadership — and the unity of a Republican Party still grappling with the influence of its former president.
